I'll admit when I'm wrong...and loyal readers, friends, Boilers, countrymen- I was wrong.
Following the Wisconsin game, I didn't see a way Purdue would end the BT season with any fewer than 4 losses, but now it looks like nearly a lock...and I thought I was being optimistic. But this team has grown up and learned a ton in the month of February, and now, they are officially rubbing elbows with the nation's elite.
While MSU wasn't 'resurgent' like some in the media were calling them, they were playing well- and isn't this just how it's gone this year for our Boilers. Give 'em a white-hot opponent, they can cool them down in a hurry. And MSU, while maybe not white-hot, quickly went from very warm to frigid at the cold, heartless hand of Matty's boys...and perhaps Purdue completely put the Spartans' hopes of an NCAA tourney out of its misery in the process.
The BT officiating was simply horrible early in the second half as Purdue racked up 4 fouls on one MSU possession and nearly everyone, with the exceptions of JJ, Smooge and LewJack was flirting with foul trouble. But once the officials calmed down, Purdue defense began turning Sparty miscues to bucket atop fun-to-watch bucket.
Jackson played the role of Kalin Lucas better than Lucas himself. Sure, Lucas ended with a ton of points, but LewJack made everybody better who was clad in a black uni with gold trim. He dealt 7 assists to go along with 16 points, 5 rebounds and a steal. He worked in traffic versus MSU defenders with ease...even Lucas couldn't stay with the waterbug-quick Jackson.
No one benefitted from 23's play more that JJ, who was extremely-efficient on the day, scoring 20 points while going 8/13. But that's only scratching the surface on the chubby stat sheet that JJ filled up. He terrorized MSU players with 7 blocks (I actually counted 8) as he completely took Sparty out of their gameplan. It didn't matter if it was a guard or power forward, JJ was tossing shots like J Money at a bachelorette party. BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!!! Johnson cleaned the glass against MSU by grabbing 17 boards. On the national stage Johnson demanded that he be considered for POY and nearly-guaranteed his spot on the consensus AA squad.
Although he didn't shoot the ball great, Moore was just below his season average scoring 17 points and adding three assists. He played like the game was very important to him as you could visibly see him fired up on more than one occasion...we've said it before, he's at his best when he's angry.
Foul trouble kept Byrd and Smith out of the game for big chunks, but Smith was still a difference maker as he had three steal that turned the court around quickly. Byrd never got into much of a rhythm and only played 13 minutes...rest might be the best thing for him as he struggles to get healthy. Barlow, TJohn and Smith all had a three-pointer each and Carroll grabbed 4 boards in 21 minutes.
Purdue beat MSU on the glass, 33-32 (always a good sign for Matty's squad), and held their opponent to just 9% from behind the arc...this is the 8th time this season Purdue's held an opponent under 20%. Honestly, outside of Lucas doing everything he could to will MSU back into the game, this one wasn't much of a contest. Purdue simply dictated the pace and broke Sparty's spirit much like they did the Illini in Champaign a few weeks ago.
I said it on Twitter, I can't remember a better three week span for Purdue basketball in my life...sure, the 1994 team's run between the win in AA to the Final 8 was pretty great, but gauntlet that Purdue has just cleared puts them in an amazing position for the tournament. They've all but locked up a 2 seed and now have a 1 in their sights. Granted, it'd probably take a BTT championship with a win over aOSU to get it done, but it's possible. I for one think anything after the first win the tourney is really gravy...and I'd rather the team get healthy and stay hungry for the main course rather than ruining their appetite on bread sticks and potato skins of the league in the BTT.
Neato stat of the day: Purdue has matched its win total from the same point in the season from last year...and, is one game better than they were in conference at this stanza. Not bad for a team left for dead by the media in October. Matt Painter should be Coach of the Year, and it's as ludicrous that he's not in the discussion as it is that JJ isn't a serious player in the POY talk.
Next up is Senior Night in God's country as two of Purdue program's most-pivotal players of all time will be introduced on Keady court for one final contest. Tip-off is at 7:00 on Tuesday for the short turnaround game...Tom Crean is angry Purdue has to play two games so close...but I don't think the short time span will hurt this spry Boiler bunch too badly. Due to business in the Northeast, I cannot attend, but Mrs. Boilerdowd will be representing the BD family in W. La La. I hope to hear the Boiler faithful in Mackey 1000 miles away as you collectively and whole-heartedly thank #25 and #33 for representing Purdue so well while winning a few games along the way.
Choo choo, muthas.
18 comments:
Does the University record the senior day festivities or anything? If not, I hope somebody in attendance can try to get some video, or at least quotes and pictures. I so badly wish I could be there.
Hell yeah!! Should be #5 in the country tomorrow. Storming up the polls at the right time. #2 seed is a lock and most likely playing the opening games in Chicago. It's getting real exciting. Especially with a possibility of a #1 seed. I like a lot of other dedicated, hard-core fans had a ton of faith at the beginning of the season after we found out Hummel's fate. I felt like a final four was still within reach without dreaming. I'll admit though, I never expected a shot at a #1 seed.
BTW, what was Ryno thinking not giving it up to JJ in the lane early on? That was odd.
I will truly be pissed if Sullinger steals the Big Ten POY award from JJ.
P.S. I actually feel a little sorry about how sad and pathetic MSU has become. I was really thinking it would be a close game.
Don't start winning the acceptance speach yet. Purdue has a wonderful habit of choking...I bleed old gold and black, and I'm excited....but there's a few more games to play before Purdue gets a shot at a #1 seed.
I'm just proud of the fact that we've played amazing...any other year in memory, and we'd locked it up by now. The top 2 teams are very, very good teams.
To get a #1 Seed
Texas and Pitt losing is huge.
O$U plays Wiscy still...who knows!?!
B1G tournament coming up.
Upsetting consensus POY's team in the BTT just might vault us to a #1 seed!!!
Ryan - I know the Big Ten Network is showing some of them on-line. Not sure if it is all, or just the Sr. Night games that are on the BTN. Our game in on ESPN.
Y'all forgot to mention that (with your help of course) the Paint Crew won the Coaches vs. Cancer contest versus the Izzone! BOOM! Another whoopin!
@PurdueCE - Yeah, I couldn't believe they announced that at Breslin. I thought for sure, since they started talking about the contest, that meant that Izzone won. I kind of felt sorry for the Spartan fans. They were getting their butts kicked, and they can't even cheer for a fan fund raiser.
Even a #1 seed isn't a guarantee of anything ... it makes the early-round games easier (most of the time) but isn't quite a ticket to Houston. I'd love to see them earn a #1, but don't care that much if they're going to keep playing like this.
Nice to see four of the seven teams ahead of Purdue in the popularity polls lose ... I wouldn't count on the Boilers passing more than one team, though I think they deserve to be fourth or fifth based on the run they've made. Then again, if they win out and keep that second seed in the conference, they'll have the chance in Indy to earn that top seed. I think another set of wins over the Badgers and Buckeyes might do it.
Johnson was awesome again today ... the blocks weren't just impressive because he had so many, but because he's really getting the art of the soft block down. (It might have been Dakich who brought up Bill Russell; if so, it's a great comparison, although I think JJ has a long, long way to go to fill those shoes.) 6 of the 7 blocks ended up in Purdue hands.
At halftime, the turnovers were 8 to 5, with MSU forcing the 8. The next 6 or 7 turnovers were committed by Spartans, though, and it was nice to see the offense settle down after halftime. (Well, after that early second-half crap where everything was a foul.)
Brian at mgoblog is right; instead of the usual trees that Izzo has, this year the Spartans have no depth in the post, just tall, slow guys who can't shoot or rebound effectively. It's not like the guard depth is any better, though, not with the way they've been playing. If Lucas hadn't had a monster half, I doubt they'd have come out to play the second half.
Jackson had an excellent second half, but even before that, it looked like Moore and Johnson could have done it themselves. This is much worse than Izzo's average MSU team. college-basketball-reference says it's more a reflection of conference strength, but it looks like they play worse than they should. This is just the type of team that Purdue needs to put away early, and that's what they did.
Two more games to keep the momentum going, and then there'll be a big weekend here in Indy for Purdue to earn what they're showing they deserve.
I have to admit that they've done better than I thought they would without Rob ... it's tempting to imagine what this team would be like at full strength, but given what they've done since the Wisconsin loss, I'd say this is full strength. The BTT will be a good test. Can they beat a top-10 team on a "neutral" court? (Chicago isn't that far away, if they get a #1 or #2 seed ... unfortunately, the regionals are, no matter where they go. San Antonio or New Orleans, probably? Assuming they get that far, of course.)
This team is becoming a buzz-saw. Next up, the big Mackey finish for the seniors....
Team that I really hope doesn't show up in Purdue's region: St.John's. They have been a giant killer all year, are very athletic, and of course, have coach Keady on their bench. I can't imagine our Boilers having to go into battle against him.
When was the last time you saw a Purdue squad put the boot down on a team, especially on the road? We all know that this a good squad, but didn't you have a feeling with almost all the BT Ws before this one that the bad guys were still "in it" with 5-10 minutes left to go? Heck, even both IU games felt like the Hoosiers could make a run and be back in it with around 7 minutes left.
Lots of good take aways, just hoping that this "killer attitude" we saw today continues for the next 11 games.
My kid will be at the Illinois game, just before he gets married Saturday, and I think he's looking forward to the game MORE than his wedding!
Boilers are peaking at the RIGHT time -- that's BIG.
Can somebody please explain why BYU or SDS could possibly be seeded ahead of Purdue?
Also, just a suggestion our wonderful hosts - when you set up a link to another website, could you do it so it opens to another window (ex: Tom Crean is angry) instead of taking the existing window to a new site? I know it's possible to do so, but I am a website linthead so I don't know HOW to do it.
Boiler Up, Banner Buttheads!
They could set up the site to do that, but your browser settings could override it anyway ... it's better to take matters into your own hands.
To make sure you open a link in another window or tab, you can either right-click on the link and select "open in new tab" or "open in new window", depending on which you want, or you can just hold the Ctrl key down while you left-click on the link as you normally would.
Choo Choo muthas.
Bring on the Illini.
I think the stretch last year from when LewJack came back until Hummel went down was more impressive. Winning at Illinois, Michigan State AND Ohio State when all three are loaded was very impressive.
Sorry you can't make the game tomorrow night.
I wasn't impressed with the atmosphere at the Breslin center although they didn't have much to get excited about. It only got loud a few times after a dunk or a 3, but then would quiet down in a hurry after a Purdue basket or timeout. Loved watching everyone head for the exits with 5 minutes left.
I know Rob Hummel was a big part of why JJ came back for his senior year but Rob's ACL injury allowed JJ to shine more than he could have with number 4 in the mix. great post.
Where u going to be in the northeast? If you're in the north jersey area, check out Miami Mike's in East Hanover for a great place to see a Big 10 game. Have Mike set you up in the luxury box!
@Purdue Matt - Breslin is usually much better. This is my 3rd straight year there to see our boys, and obviously this has been a down year for them. Plus the game really wasn't that close. Sure they made some big plays and came somewhat close (maybe within 7?) but never pulled off a run. I agree with an earlier comment that it still never felt in the bag because you never know with an Izzo coached team, they really weren't totally out of it until only a few minutes left. I thought the mass exodus of fans started a bit early but it's been a long season. These fans have pretty high expectations from the long run they've had in the last decade+.
Nice to see him come back strong after an ACL injury. podiatrists did a good job.
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